ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 5) – Shaina Mitchell's 89^th minute goal lifted the Central Washington University soccer team to a 2-1 victory over San Francisco State University.  The Wildcats are now 1-1-0 on the season, while the Gators are 0-1-0.
 
Central Washington striker Mackenzie Nolte tested San Francisco State keeper Karin Nordin in the eighth minute for the game's first shot.  Nolte found her way through the Gators' back line and launched a shot that Nordin snuffed out.
 
The Gators took possession and mounted their own offensive.  Laura Shea received a through ball and stepped around her defender before she let fly a strike that found the back of the net to give San Francisco State a 1-0 advantage.
 
Nolte once again tested Nordin and again the Sweden native came up big for the Gators in the 21^st minute.   In the 23^rd minute, Keilin Farrand took a corner for the Wildcats, which led to Abby Litka sending a shot to the right of the cage.
 
The first half ended with the Gators holding a 5-4 shot advantage and a 4-2 advantage in corners received. 
 
"We let San Francisco State, who is very aggressive, get on us early and we were back on our heels," head coach Michael Farrand said.  "Half time gave us a chance to take the pressure off and focus on what we needed to accomplish as a team."
 
In the second half, the Wildcats received evened the score in the 52^nd minute when Reilly Retz found the back of the net off a Jessica Haga free kick.  The free kick was given after San Francisco State fouled a CWU forward.  Retz volleyed Haga's free kick from 15 yards to even the score, 1-1. 
 
"Reilly's goal was fortuitous for us," Farrand said.  "The second half saw us play in their half, the only real threats were the free kicks in front of our net." 
 
The Wildcats kept the pressure up for the rest of the second half.  In the 63^rd minute Central Washington took its first of three consecutive corner kicks within seven minutes.  In the 70^th minute Nolte took another shot, but it slid wide left.
 
The Gators took only two shots after the 75^th minute.  Amanda White gathered both up with ease to keep the score knotted at 1-1.
 
In the 89^th minute Nolte received a through ball and took the ball up the right side.  She battled through a pair of Gators before she fired a shot towards Nordin, which was blocked by Bianca Lowe. Nolte recovered the ball and sent a low cross towards Mitchell, who beat Nordin to secure a 2-1 win for the Wildcats.
 
"We were able to watch Thursday's game film and identify some areas we wanted to work on," Farrand said afterward. "I liked that we didn't give up and we kept finding ways to attack.  Mack's decision to take the ball down the sideline was a battle and I'm very happy for Shaina Mitchell.  She did a great job getting open and getting the game winner.  She did a great job of framing the ball and she finished the way as coaches we teach to finish." 
 
Mitchell and Retz both registered their first goal of the season, while Nolte and Haga tallied their first assist.  White made three saves.
 
The Wildcats will be back in action on Sept. 7 in Nampa, Idaho to take on Regis University.  Kickoff is scheduled for 10 a.m. PST.